
          151.

59

Sept. 30. 99.  To Catonsville through the ravine and along
the river road to Relay.  Arrived at C. at 10:15 A.M.
The morning was very cold at the Sun Office I found it
54º but out here it must surely have been 10º colder.
In the ravine, out of the wind, we found it very pleasant,
in fact quite warm. This is the time for aster
and for gathering nuts.  All during the day we could
hear the falling of the ripe nuts.  I had a large flour
bag & before the day was over, we had it filled with
hickory nuts, walnuts and butternuts.  What a beautiful
sun lit day it was, and how pretty were the woods filled with
this subdued [illegible] light!  In one sunny spot close to this
brook we found Hamamelis Virginiana in full bloom.
On the plant we found several warty excresences [excrescences]. Opening
one of them I found it quite hollow, containing a liquid
covered with a bluish white scum, as I rolled it in the
little cavity it did not wet the sides, it looked very
much like so much mercury.  On the inside walls of this
little excresense [excrescence] were many little insects many of them in the
perfect stage.  Continuing towards our camp we saw a
turtle, who, thinking Mr T. was after him was trying to
        